New Delhi: Poshan Tracker mobile application, introduced by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, has received global acclaim with a recent article in The Lancet applauding this groundbreaking data-driven tool for maternal and child nutrition. Union Minister Smriti Irani recently posted this on her LinkedIn profile.

"The Lancet, an esteemed peer-reviewed journal has featured an insightful article on India’s Poshan Tracker - an innovative, indigenous technological tool developed to be the largest mobile-based nutrition surveillance system in the world," Irani wrote on her timeline.

The Poshan tracker has brought about a paradigm shift in nutrition program management, enabling real-time monitoring, informed decision-making, and enhanced accountability. Utilising technology for dynamic identification of undernourishment among children and monitoring nutrition service delivery at the grassroots level, the Poshan Tracker mobile application was launched on March 1st, 2021.

In the battle against childhood undernutrition, early detection and intervention are paramount. With the proliferation of mobile phones globally, there's an unprecedented opportunity to revolutionise nutrition surveillance. By leveraging technology to streamline data collection and analysis, countries can make more informed decisions to combat malnutrition effectively.

The Lancet article commended the Indian government, hailing the Poshan Tracker as the world's largest mobile phone-based nutrition surveillance system. It provides transparent data on anthropometric outcomes, functioning of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), and the receipt of care services, such as supplementary food provision. AWCs play a crucial role in the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, aimed at enhancing nutritional and health outcomes for mothers and children.

Analysis of Poshan Tracker data revealed remarkable progress. Anganwadi Centres operational for more than 15 days per month surged from 35% to 89% between July 2022 and September 2023. The number of beneficiaries receiving supplementary food skyrocketed from 4.1 million to 20.9 million, while children's growth monitoring at AWCs increased significantly, covering 94% of registered children.

This transformation is partly attributed to improved reporting facilitated by the Poshan Tracker management application. It offers a comprehensive view of AWC activities, service deliveries, and beneficiary management, digitising and automating physical registers to enhance work quality.

Moreover, the initiative equips Anganwadi workers with smartphones procured through Government e-Market (GeM) to facilitate efficient service delivery. Over 8.66 lakh phones have been procured nationwide, with more than 6.5 lakh workers trained in their usage.

With the success of India's Poshan Tracker, we are well on the path to paving the way for a data-driven revolution in global nutrition service delivery.